An umbilical granuloma is a small red bump of tissue that can form in a newborn’s belly button during the first several weeks after they’re born. Many babies get a granuloma and have no problems. However, some umbilical granulomas can become infected. In rare cases, adults can also form painful umbilical granulomas. Here’s what you need to know about how they can affect your health.
What Causes Umbilical Granulomas?
Most umbilical granulomas form when the belly button is healing after the umbilical cord falls off. They look like small red lumps in your child’s navel. Unlike the rest of their skin, the granuloma appears slightly shiny and is covered in a clear discharge.
After the umbilical cord is cut, a small stump remains on your baby’s stomach. Typically, the stump will fall off on its own and heal without a problem. However, in rare cases, an umbilical granuloma will form where the stump fell off. Only about 1 in 500 babies will develop an umbilical granuloma.
Rarely, an adult may develop an umbilical granuloma. These lumps are caused by trauma to the belly button. One of the most common causes of an adult umbilical granuloma is navel piercing. While granulomas in babies are not painful, they may be painful for adults.
Impact of Umbilical Granulomas on Health
Granulomas are relatively minor complications. However, they do require treatment because they don’t resolve on their own. Most granulomas continue to slowly grow until they’re treated. These lumps can easily become infected.
An infected granuloma is a critical health problem. Since granulomas are connected to the umbilical opening, the infection can spread quickly. If you believe your child has an infected granuloma, seek medical care right away to keep the infection from getting worse.
Umbilical Granuloma Symptoms
An umbilical granuloma is a small, soft, moist lump at the belly button (umbilicus) that is pink or red in color. It appears after the umbilical cord falls off — usually within the first few weeks of life, says Fumihiko Namba, MD, a neonatal intensive care physician-scientist at Saitama Medical University in Japan.
“It may ooze clear or yellowish fluid but usually doesn't cause pain, fever, or redness around the belly button unless it gets infected,” he says.
How Are Umbilical Granulomas Diagnosed?
Doctors typically diagnose an umbilical granuloma by examining the tissue in the belly button area, Namba says. In most cases, a doctor's checkup is enough. Additional testing is usually needed only if there are signs of infection.
How Are Umbilical Granulomas Treated?
In most cases, treating granulomas is simple. Your child’s pediatrician will probably be able to treat and remove the lump in their office. Granuloma treatments include:
Silver nitrate. Umbilical granulomas in babies don’t have nerve endings, so they can be treated with a small amount of silver nitrate. The doctor will place the silver nitrate on the granuloma, and it will burn off the tissue. Your baby will not feel any pain during the process. Adults may need a topical anesthetic to numb the area before the treatment.
Liquid nitrogen. If silver nitrate isn’t an option, then liquid nitrogen can be used. The liquid is very cold and freezes the lump immediately. After it’s frozen, the granuloma tissue dissolves away.
Suture thread ties. In some cases, your doctor may tie off the granuloma with suture thread. This cuts off blood flow to the lump. Over time, it will dry up and shrivel until it disappears.
Salt. Another way to dry out the granuloma is by using salt. Since granulomas are covered in clear mucus, the salt dries them out and causes them to shrivel away. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to apply salt to the granuloma safely.
Surgery. In rare cases, an umbilical granuloma may need to be surgically removed. This is most common for infected granulomas, as surgical removal is the quickest treatment. If your baby’s granuloma is infected, surgery will help stop the spread of infection and help them recover more quickly.
Home care tips
Here are some doctor-recommended tips to care for your baby’s umbilical granuloma at home:
- Keep the belly button area dry and clean.
- If the area becomes soiled with urine or stool, gently clean it with mild soap and warm water.
- Fold down the top of your baby’s diaper to expose the belly button area to air.
If the granuloma is not infected, your child’s doctor may suggest that you do a salt treatment at home. Follow these steps:
- Clean the belly button area with a cotton ball soaked in warm water.
- Apply a small pinch of table or cooking salt onto the umbilical granuloma.
- Cover the area with dry gauze or adhesive tape to hold the salt in place for 30 minutes. (Your health care provider may provide gauze swabs, or you can purchase them at a pharmacy.)
- After 30 minutes, clean the area again with warm water using a cotton ball.
- Repeat this process twice a day for five days.
You should start to notice improvement in two to three days. The granuloma may shrink, change colour, and dry out as the area gradually heals.
Home care during and after treatment
It’s important to keep the belly button area clean and dry both during and after the treatment process, Namba says.
After treatment, watch for signs of infection, including:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Warmth
- Pus (discharge)
- Fever
If you notice any of these signs, contact your child’s doctor immediately.
Preventing Umbilical Granuloma Infections
Since granulomas are a type of scar tissue, they’re difficult to prevent. However, if your baby develops a granuloma, you can often prevent infections.
The best way to prevent infections is to protect your baby’s belly button and keep the area clean. Gently wiping the area down with warm soap and water can prevent drainage and the buildup of bacteria. Your child’s doctor may have other recommendations, as well. Always follow their instructions for taking care of your baby’s navel.
When to Go to the Doctor
All granulomas should be treated by a doctor. However, if a granuloma gets infected, it needs to be treated immediately. Your baby may need antibiotics to prevent the infection from getting worse. Signs your baby needs to go to the doctor right away include:
Takeaways
Umbilical granulomas are common, harmless lumps that can form after the umbilical cord falls off — but they require treatment to heal properly. Your child’s doctor may recommend home treatment if the granuloma is not infected. In-office treatments like silver nitrate, freezing, or surgical removal may be used depending on the case. No matter the treatment approach, it’s important to keep the area clean and dry, watch for signs of infection, and follow your doctor’s guidance closely.
Umbilical Granulomas FAQs
Do umbilical granulomas require surgery?
Surgical removal of umbilical granulomas is rarely needed. It’s typically considered only if your child’s umbilical granuloma gets infected. It’s also sometimes used for larger granulomas or those that don’t shrink with standard therapies, says Namba.
Do umbilical granulomas go away?
“Yes, most umbilical granulomas go away completely with the right treatment,” says Namba. In some cases, smaller granulomas may heal on their own. However, they typically don’t go away if left untreated and can become infected.
How do you stop granulomas from growing?
To stop an umbilical granuloma from growing, treatment focuses on removing the excess tissue and helping the area heal, says Namba. Your child’s doctor may first recommend salt treatment at home to dry out the granuloma. If that doesn’t work, they may use silver nitrate treatment in the office to burn away the tissue safely. In some cases, your child’s doctor may recommend topical steroid creams or ointments to reduce inflammation and shrink the granuloma.
